In response to the Climate Central study, Coe said: “The era of ‘business as usual’ for track and field and other summer and winter endurance sports is over.
“Rising heat, rising sea levels and unpredictable conditions are no longer exceptions – they are the new normal.
“At World Athletics we recognize that athlete wellbeing is no longer just about training and tactics, but about responding to a warming planet.
“We must lead, adapt and innovate if our sport is to thrive in the future, and that means taking bold steps now.”
Mhairi Maclennan, the fastest British finisher in the 2024 London Marathon, said: “At elite level, conditions make or break a performance.
“We train day in and day out for years and manage every aspect of our lives to perform at our best, only to have that elusive goal slip further away as ideal temperatures become rarer.
“Climate change isn’t just about racing becoming more difficult; it’s about knowing that record-breaking performances could soon be out of reach if conditions continue to warm.”
The study said Tokyo has the highest probability of having ideal temperatures for elite male runners (69%), but is also projected to have the steepest drop by 2045.
The men’s marathon world record of two hours and 35 seconds was set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023.
Ruth Chepngetich set the women’s world record in Chicago in 2024, although she was banned for three years last week after admitting anti-doping rule violations.
The men’s record has been reduced by two minutes and 22 seconds in the last seven years, and the improvement in times is widely attributed to new shoe technology.
Former women’s world record holder Catherine Ndereba said: “Climate change has altered the marathon.
“Dehydration is a real risk, and simple miscalculations can end a race before it begins. Now every step carries a message: if we don’t take care of our planet, even our strongest steps will fall short.”
Ibrahim Hussein, winner of the New York and Boston marathons, said: “The weather is now part of the journey.
“If we don’t protect it, future records and everyone’s enjoyment will become less and less likely.”